Igniting mechanism for internal-combustion engines.



w. GRuN0w,1R. IGNITING MECHANISM FOR lNTERNAL COMBU SHON ENG|NES..v

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 28. \915. 1,205,194. Patented Nov. 21,1916.

' 2 SHEETSSHEET I.

a House w. sauwow, IR.

IGNITING MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED 06128 1915.

1,205,194. Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

gnuenlo'n attorney UNITED sm-tries Miriam: onrion.

WILLIA snonow, in, or NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOH 'ro JOHN F. ALVORD, or 'IORRINGTON, CONNECTICUT, AND WILLIAM B. THOMPSON, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

l IGNI'IING MECHANISM FOR} INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916,

- Application filed Octipbcr 28, 1915. Serial No. 58,379.

. '1 b all whom it may concern -.Be it known thatI, WILLIAM Gnunnw, *J 1:; a citizen-"of the United States, residing at- 401 West One Hundred and Twentyfourth street, in the city and county of New *York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Igniting Mechanism for Internal-Combustion --'En'gines, of which the following is a specifi"- location, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

- This invention relates to electric igniters, as used with internal combustion engines, and comprises a make and break igniter '15 -hafving two electrodes, and operated by the engine piston engaging a plunger connected to or forming one of the electrodes thereby separating contact points on the electrodes,

{and prodi'icing. a spark.

-An"object of the invention is to provide means for advancing and retarding the timing of the spark in relation to the position "of the' engine piston.

"" -Afurther object is to assemble the elec- 2 5 trode's', the means for restraining the electrodes, and the means for-advancing and retarding the breaking of the electrodes in one unit, adapted to be removed and replaced on the engine without disassembling any or the SII- i'elated p'arts,thereby affording the same simplicity of replacen'ient with this type of igniter as is offered with the usual spark |P1 g --"\Vhilc piston operated plugs have been known they have not come into commercial use 'pwing to several practical diliicultics eliminated in this invention. Among these -a're difliculty of attachment to the engine,

leaky construction, the production of the 40*spairk in a chamber-or restricted pocket or portion of the igniter whereby the flame propagation is seriously hampered, arrangements whereby soot and carbon collect on the working parts especially the contacts be- 4' tween the electrodes thereby opening the circult, and arrangements whereby the circuit is from one electrode to the engine piston wherein the spark is always produced late-z These ob ect1ons are overcome in my device,

60 as hereinafter described and claimed.

" Thelinventionwillbe clearly understood by reference to theanneiced drawings, in which the same figures refer to the same parts whenever they" are shown.

of the jgniter, Fig. 2, Fig. 5, shows the cyl inder end of the igniter shown in-Fig. 1.

1 represents the wall. of an engine cylinder, 2 the engine piston. i

3 is the usual cylinder head, which for the sake of illustration is shown separate from the cylinder wall, although it is obvious that the same may be cast' integral therewith.

In a suitable aperture in 3 is located the threaded body 4- of the 'igniter as shown in Fig. 1. It is obvious however that this body may be constructed in the form shown in Fig. 2. and bolted or otherwise attached to the cylinder. The arrangement shown in Fig. 1 is advantageous as one igniter body may beadapted to engines having cylinder Fig. 2, a view of a modified form heads or walls of various thickness by pro-' viding a collar 5 of theproper length for a given engine, and clamping this collar between the body 4 and the cylinder head 3, by the means of a. clamp nut 6.

The body 4 Fig. 1 is drilled as indicated at 7 to receive an electrode 8 the same-being insulated from t by means of any suitable material such as mica placed as indicated at 9 and 10. as shown at 11 and is provided with asuitable contact point, 12, which may be riveted thereto.

The cylinder end of 8 is shaped- The outer end of 8 is provided with a suitable clamping means 13, for attaching the exert its tension outwardly, toward the pis-' ton, as shown.

The end 19 of the-plunger projects outwardly beyond .the end of; the body l,=but may be normallycovered.with a projecting cap 20. To ascertain at what time in-the held in line.

In operation, the contact points 12 and 17 are normally closed, the piston 2 not being in engagement with the end of 15 abut upon the iston occu ying the position sl'iown by otted line 2, representing the dead center, or slightly before this point is reached, the points are. opened by piston 2 pushing 15 outwardly. The circuit thus being broken, a spark takes place within the compressed mixture in the cylinder, which is ignited in the usual manner.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that the igniter as a whole, may be adjusted to suit cylinder heads or walls of various thickness: that the igniter may be removed from the engine without disturbing any of the operative parts of the igniter' and particularly those that should, not be disturbed, such for instance as insulation 9 and'10, and that the outer end 19 of plunger 15 may be readily observed by removing the cap 20, thereby enabling the timing of the en ine to be'readily checked by open visual indication. It is also observed that the construction shown results in gas tight joints withoutthe use of packing between the cylinder and igniter'proper, or the use of packing in parts of the igniter. The insulation 9 and 10 around the electrode 8 is usually mica and is of solid construction and cannot be considered in the nature of packing.

Vhile the igniter shown in Fig 1 is particularly adapted to engines in which. the

timing of the ignitionis fixed, there are engines in which it is desirable to advance and retard the timing of the spark in its relation to the piston, and for such engines, I provide the arrangement shown in Fig. 2, The electrode 8 is supported in a sleeve 23 which is insulated by means of/a-ny suitable material, at 2,4: and 25. The electrode 8 is movable within the tube 23 in the following manner: 26 denotes an insulating bushing,

screwed or otherwise attached to the threaded end of 8. The annular ring 27 in 26 is engaged by the downwardly pro ect-' ing portion of the nut 28, carried on a threaded stem 29, said stem being'revolu- Me by means of handle 33. 29 and 3 are both carried on a suitable stud 31 supported by the boss 32 in the igniter body 1. By rotating the handle 33, the electrode 8 may bemoved toward or away from the piston,

ri'lhis movement is accomp and the plunger 15 will partake of such movement, being moved against spring 18. ished' by the nut 28 running back and forth on the tl'ireaded ste1n 29 as the latter is rotated on its sup porting stud 31.. This causes the end of plunger 15 to be advanced nearer to or further away from the piston 2, and therefore the points 17 and 12 are opened at a. time in relation to the piston depending upon the relative position of handle The indicator 3O ri idly attached to 31 may be provided, as s 1OW11 in Fig. 3, whereby the relative advance or retard in degrees of the ignition firing point in relation to the position of the piston may be determined by the relation of the graduated portion of the hair dle 33 thereto, as shown.

The ign'iter body 4 is attached to the ongine cylinder in Fig. 2 in any suitable manner as by bolts and nuts indicated at 35 and 36 and it will be apparent that by removing these nuts the entire igniter may be removed from the engine without changing the relative position of the ,various parts, or chang inf? the settin of the timing. And while I ave shown t eigniter mounted on the end of a cylinder, it is obvious that same may be mounted on the side of the cylinder, as Well, and operated by means of a suitable bell crank arrangement. i

There are other obvious modifications, all of which are within the scope of my invention. i

It will benoticed that the contacts 12 and 17 are openly positioned in the combustion space within the cylinder, and that these are of the usual removable or rivet type. There are no pockets or inclosed surroundj ing these points, in which soot and carboif can collect, a serious defect in some forms of igniters.

Having thus described my invention, I claim;- v

1. An igniter comprising a single stem electrode having a freely projecting contact point, insulation about said electrode, a second-electrode carrying a freely projectingcontact'and having an extended portion adapted to directly engage an engine piston, tension means for holding the con tacts of said electrode normally in contact,

. and a body member upon which all of the foregomgparts are mounted to form a re- -tt1re, a second longitudinal'aperture in said body, a movable electrode supported in said last aperture, and in contact with said body, a spring surrounding a portion of said movable electrode, said "spring being inclosed by said body, a cylinder wall adapted to receive a portion of said threaded body, and means surrounding a portion of said igniter body and coiiperating with said cylinder Wall, whereby said body may be locked in position.

4;. An igniter comprising a body, an electrode in said body, insulated thereirom and havin a contact )Olflt adaoted to, re set beyond said body and freely into an engine cyllnder, a second electrode having an extension adapted to engage an engine piston, and means for moving one of said electrodes in relation to the piston operated electrode, substantially as described.

5. In combination with an internal combustion engine, an igniter comprising a body rigidly secured to said engine, a mow able electrode having a contact point carried in said body and adapted. to be operated by the piston of said engine, a second electrode coiperating with the contact point on said first electrode, means for adjusting said electrodes in relation to said piston,

and means for preventing axial rotation of said electrodes.

6. In combination with an internalcombustion engine, an igniter comprising a body rigidly secured to said engine, a movable electrode having a contact point carried in said body, and adapted to be operated by the piston of said engine, a second electrode having a contact point coiiperating with said first contact point, means for adjusting said electrodes in relation to said piston, said means including the stem of one of said electrodes, and means, for preing portion on one of said electrodes adapted to be engaged by adgusting mechanism carried on said body and forming a unit therewith, and means for preventing axial trodes.

rotation of one of said electrodes, substantially as described. I

8. In combination with an internal coinbustion engine, an igniter comp rising a body rigidly secured to said engine, a movable electrode carried in said body adapted to be operated by the piston of said engine, and having a contact point, a second electrode coiiperating with said first contact point, adjusting); means carried on said body whereby said electrodes may be moved nearerto or farther away from said piston, the travel of said electrodes being in plane with the movement 01 said pistomand means for prev'enting' axial rotation of one 01 said electrodes.

9. In combination with an internal combustion engine, an igniter body adapted to be secured thereto, movable electrodes carp ,ricd by said body, and having; freely projecting: contact points, means for adjusting said electrodes in relation to the piston of said engine, and means for preventing one of said electrodes from turning in its support.

10. In combination with an internal combustion engine, an igniter body adapted to be secured thereto, movable electrodes car ried by said body and having freely projecting contact points, means for adjusting said electrodes in relation to the engine pis ton, means'located external said body for determining the position of said electrodes relative to said piston, and means to prevent one of said electrodes from rotating, substantially as described.

11. In combination with an internal combustion engine, an. igniter body adapted to be secured thereto, movable electrodes carried by said body and having freely projecting; contact points, means for adjusting said electrodes in relation to the piston of said engine whereby the timing of the ignition may be varied during the normal running thereof, said means includiugmcchanism mounted on said body and removable from the enginev therewith as a unit, and means preventing" the rotation of said elec- 12. In combination with an internal combustion engine, an igniter body adapted to be secured thereto, movable electrodes car ried by said body, and having freely projecting contact points, means-for adjusting said electrodes in relation to the piston of said engine, including a graduated inclicluding a graduated indicator, an extension tact points within the engine cylinder to indicator,

of said electrodes.

on one of said electrodes projecting outside sald body and forming a second indicator whereby the position of said electrode may be determined.

14:. In combination with an internal com bustion engine, an igniter body adaptedto be secured thereto, movable electrodes carried by said body, means for adjusting said electrodes in relation to the piston of said engine, including a graduatedindicator, an extension ,on one of said electrodes projecting outside of said body and forming an and a cap normally covering said extension. I a

15. In combination with an electric iglnitcr of the piston operated type, means for varying the position of both the igniter elec trodes, indicating means for determining the position of said electrodes, in relation to said piston, and separate indicating means for determining the position of one of said electrodes. i

16., An electric igniter comprising a unitary structure carrying movable electrodes having contact pointa tension means for holding said electrodes in normal engagement, means for varying the position of said electrodes relation to the other parts, meansfor indicating the relative position of said electrodes, and separate indicating means for determining the position of one '17. An electric igniter com rising a body, make and break igniter Inec ianism carried thereby, and having contacts projecting freely unto. the combustion space of said engine, a circuit terminal, means for varying the timing of said mechanism, and means for preventing rotation of the electrodes, all of the foregoing being assembled as a unit, and adapted to be removed or re ybustion engine, an igniter comprising a body, an electrode movably positioned therein but insulated therefrom, a second electrode adapted to coiiperate With'said first electrode, and adapted to be engaged by the engine piston, means external said body for adjusting said electrodes in relation to the engine piston, said means including the stem of said first motioned electrode, and means for preventingrotation of said electrodes. substantially as described.

19. In' combination with an internal combustion engine, an igniter comprising a body, electrodes positioned in said body and having their extremities equipped with conton, and means for maintaining the axial alinement of said contacts and preventing the rotation'of saidstems,substantially as described.

. 21. An igniter comprising a casting having an apertured body portion, a tapered stem in said aperture, insulation between said stem and body, an extension on said stem projecting outside said" body and form ing a terminal for said stem, a contact secured to the inner end of said stem, means for clamping said stem in said body Whereby the stem is rigidly secured therein, a second aperture in said body, a stem in said last aperture, a contact member on said last stem adapted to engage the contact member on said first mentioned stem, means for holding said contacts normally in. contact with each other, means for preserving the alinement of said contacts, and means for opening said contacts, substantially as de scribed.

22. In combination with an internal CORP bustion engine, an igniter comprising a one piece body rigidly secured to said engine, a movable electrode carried in. said body and adapted to be operated by the pistonof said engine, and a second electrode coiiperating with said first electrode and insulated from said body and self-locking means for adjusting said last mentioned electrode in relation to said piston.

23. In combination with an internal com .bustion engine, an igniter comprising a one signature.

' WILLIAM GRUNOVV, JR. 

